Howard Jacobson for The Finkler Question, a novel about love, loss and male friendship, and explores what it means to be Jewish today.

Congratulations Mr. Jacobson on your 2010 Man Booker Prize!

October is National Adopt-A-Dog Month . If you're interested in adding a lovable shelter dog to your family, we have plenty of resources here at the library to help you select just the right breed. A few of the many, many books in our collection include:

The 50+ dog owner: complete dog parenting for baby boomers and beyond by Mary Jane Checchi
Oh my dog: how to choose, train, groom, nurture, feed and care for your new best friend by Beth Ostrosky Stern (Howard's wife!)
The Original Dog Bible: the definitive source for all things dog from Bowtie Press
The adopted dog bible by Kim Saunders
New Dog: choosing wisely and ensuring a happy ever after by Bruce Fogle
Dogs for Kids by Kristin Mehus-Roe

So, do your homework, investigate what type of dog is right for you and head on over to the nearest shelter and rescue your new best friend.

Are you a fan of AMC's hit series, Mad Men? A manager of the Battery Park City branch of the NY Public Library sure is and has created a reading list of books either talked about or seen on this popular show.

His current list includes:

Meditations in an Emergency by Frank O'Hara
The Best of Everything by Rona Jaffe
Confessions of an Advertising Man (of course) by David Ogilvy
Babylon Revisited and Other Stories by F. Scott Fitzgerald
The Chrysanthemum and the Sword by Ruth Benedict
Exodus by Leon Uris
Ship of Fools by Katherine Ann Porter
Lady Chatterley's Lover by D.H. Lawrence
The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner
Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand
The Agony and the Ecstasy - Irving Stone
The Group by Mary McCarthy
The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire by Edward Gibbon

So, do as Billy Parrott of the NYPL suggests, pour yourself a big glass of Scotch and enjoy one of these oldies-but-goodies that you can get from the RVC library.

September is National Reading Group Month (and Library Card Sign-up Month too). If your book group is looking for a new list of books bound to start interesting discussions, try some of these titles:

Blame by Michelle Heneven
The Blessings of Animals by Katrina Kittle
Eternal on the Water by Joseph Monninger
The Girl Who Fell From The Sky by Heidi Durrow
Little Bee by Chris Cleave
The Lotus Eaters by Tatjana Soli
Molly Fox's Birthday by Deirdre Madden
The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender
The Queen of Palmyra by Minrose Gwin
Room by Emma Donoghue
Up From The Blue by Susan Henderson

On October 12, the winner of the Man Booker Prize will be announced. The prize rewards the best novel of the year written by a citizen of the British Commonwealth or the Republic of Ireland. The winner of the Man Booker Prize receives £50,000 and both the winner and the shortlisted authors are guaranteed a worldwide readership plus a dramatic increase in book sales.

The six shortlisted books, selected from the Man Booker Prize longlist of 13 announced earlier this year, are:

Peter Carey ~ Parrot and Olivier in America
Emma Donoghue ~ Room
Damon Galgut ~ In a Strange Room
Howard Jacobson ~ The Finkler Question
Andrea Levy ~ The Long Song
Tom McCarthy ~ C

Last year's winner, Wolf Hall, was very hard to get after the prize was announced so beat the rush and check out one of these that is guaranteed to be the winner.

According to this New York Times article, we are entering the season that booksellers just love - the fall. Major authors such as Ken Follett, Michael Cunningham, Nicole Krauss, Tom Clancy and my personal favorite, David Sedaris, all have books coming out in the next few months.

In conjunction with Election Day, there are a slew of political books due out as well. Tony Blair, Bill O'Reilly, Condoleeza Rice, Jimmy Carter, Walter Mondale and G.W. Bush all have written books slated for autumn release.

So, check in here at your local library to pick up, or reserve, the book of your choice.

Nothing better than curling up on a cool, crisp day with a warm beverage while reading a great book!

Labor Day is this weekend and a sure sign of autumn is New York Magazine's list of the 20 most anticipated fiction and non-fiction books for Fall 2010.

If you are interested in hearing 4 best-selling authors (David Baldacci, Janet Evanovich, Ken Follett and Julie Orringer- wow, what a panel) speak about themselves and their newly published books at the Times Center in NYC on Sunday, October 3rd, then the The New York Times Great Literary Conversation series is the event for you. Looks to be an interesting and entertaining day.

Take a trip around the world without leaving the comfort of your own home by reading these stories -- 3 novels and 2 works of nonfiction --about a history teacher, an angst-filled teen, a budding celebrity chef, an intrepid spice hunter and Ernest Hemingway himself who whisk you to vacation spots around the world.

Just because summer is almost over doesn't mean you have to stop travelling, even if it is vicariously.

Amy, one of our intrepid librarians, alerted me to two great 'low-calorie' websites for all of us who would rather read about delicious food than indulge and pack on the extra lbs.

Fiction for Foodies & Culinary Fiction should satisfy your culinary cravings the non-fattening way.

Bon Appétit!

Leonard Lopate brings a diverse collection of great writers and talkers together for smart, unpredictable conversations every weekday on WNYC radio from Noon to 2 pm. Check out this list of summer fiction if you are looking for some interesting alternatives to the typical best sellers this summer.

If your idea of a great book is a pulse-quickening, fast-moving suspense thriller, have I got a list for you!

The NPR audience voted their Top 100 'Killer Thrillers' of all time and what quality choices they are ~ a terrific mix of classics and popular authors. As you might expect, Stephen King was the most popular author with 6 titles in the top 100, followed by Lee Child with 4, and with 3 each, Michael Crichton, Dennis Lehane and the late Steig Larsson.

The Top 10 are:

1. The Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris
2. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
3. Kiss the Girls by James Patterson
4. The Bourne Identity by Robert Ludlum
5. In Cold Blood by Truman Capote
6. The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown
7. The Shining by Stephen King
8. And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie
9. The Hunt tor Red October by Tom Clancy
10. The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

You can read the article, and see the entire list, here.

The radio show I listen to while getting ready for work in the morning, The Takeway on NPR, had an interesting segment asking listeners to weigh in with their opinions on the most and least successful adaptations of books into movies.

This summer, Eat, Pray, Love is coming to the big screen as is Charlie St. Cloud (novel title - The Death and Life of Charlie St. Cloud). Wonder how they will compare to the books? If tradition holds, not very well even with Julia Roberts & Zac Ephron as stars.

Personally, I loved both the books and movies of Lonesome Dove and The Silence of the the Lambs. What's your favorite?

Summertime and spending time with family seem to go hand-in-hand. If you are interested in reading about families with some big time issues, check out these newly released books.

Might make you really grateful for your own family ...

Eight years after the highly successful novel (but less successful movie) The Nanny Diaries, the nanny novel is back!! Not only is there a sequel, Nanny Returns, but three new books are showcasing complex and flawed nannies whose own personal stories intersect with larger questions about race, class, immigration and parenthood. Bad Marie, Minding Ben (due out next year) and My Hollywood are the newest entries in the nanny genre.

Warning - I'd be very careful when hiring an au pair after reading these ...

Tired of all things vampire? Here are five freaky summer reads featuring zombies, gods, monsters, aliens, mutants, giant squid - you get the picture. NOT your traditional reads but a whole lot of fun.

Ever think, too many books, so little time? If you are like most of us, deciding which of the popular summer bestsellers to read is daunting. National Public Radio took some of the guesswork out of it by developing a list of 5 must-reads this summer. I recently read Tom Rachman's The Imperfectionists and recommend it highly.

Happy Reading!

Join us for our 2nd Annual Adult Summer Reading Club - July 6th through August 27th

*Open to all RVC cardholders 18 and over
*Read books of your choice (audio books qualify)
*Submit review for each book read, electronically or paper, and receive a Mad Money dollar
*Redeem Mad Money for prizes (paper cubes, note pads, book lights, etc.) starting 7/6

For more information, see a librarian at the Adult Reference Desk.

The woman who does so much for books and authors is still at it with her annual summer reading suggestions in June's O magazine ~~ lush historical novels, wise contemporary tales and crowd-pleasing beach reads ... Oprah's summer reading list.

To help you chose just the right book for your mood, try O's Book Finder.

The tradional idea of summer reading is usually of light, easy reads but summer books don't have to be mindless. NPR has put together a list of 16 book recommendations from three well respected independent book sellers. The Lonely Polygamist sounds good to me ...

If you are looking to read edgy and innovative young authors, this week's New Yorker has their annual 20 Authors Under 40 article. Past honorees have included Jhumpa Lahiri (The Namesake), Junot Díaz (The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao) , Michael Chabon (The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay), Jeffrey Eugenides (Middlesex) and David Foster Wallace (Infinite Jest). Poor Dave Eggers -- he turned 40 this year and missed the list yet again.

Even though I'm in the 'book biz', I only knew seven of these talented people. Guess I have a lot of reading to catch up on!

The 1st 'unofficial weekend' of summer is behind us, it's less than 3 weeks till summer starts ~ time to think about what to read on those hazy days at the beach, pool or back yard.

The following is an eclectic list of suggestions of 'hot off the press' new releases from Janet Maslin of the NY Times:

BLOOD OATH by Christopher Farnsworth (Vampire Fiction)
THE NEAREST EXIT by Olen Steinhauer (Suspense Fiction)
I'LL MATURE WHEN I'M DEAD by Dave Barry (Wit & Humor)
STAR ISLAND by Carl Hiaasen (Fiction)
ME, THE MOB, AND THE MUSIC by Tommy James, with Martin Fitzpatrick (Biography-Musicians)
WHEN I STOP TALKING, YOU'LL KNOW I'M DEAD by Jerry Weintraub, with Rich Cohen (Biography-Celebrity)
SHE AIN'T HEAVY, SHE'S MY MOTHER by Bryan Batt (Biography-"Mad Men" star)
CHELSEA CHELSEA BANG BANG by Chelsea Handler (Biography-Comedian)
TELL-ALL by Chuck Palahniuk (Fiction-Romans a clef)
ARM CANDY by Jill Kargman (Chick lit)
SEVEN YEAR SWITCH by Claire Cook (Domestic Fiction)
HANNAH'S LIST by Debbie Macomber (Romance)

One of my favorite books (and movie) of all-time is celebrating it's 50th anniversary this summer. To commemorate the Golden Anniversary of the "Best Novel of the 20th Century" (from a Library Journal poll of American librarians), filmmaker Mary Murphy has interviewed prominent figures--including Oprah, Anna Quindlen, and Tom Brokaw--on how the book has impacted their lives, and compiled the interviews in Scout, Atticus, and Boo: A Celebration of 50 Years of 'To Kill a Mockingbird'," out next month.

There will be parties, movie screenings, readings and scholarly discussions throughout the country in celebration of the anniversary this iconic, Pulitzer Prize winning novel.

True to form, author Harper Lee, now 84, will not attend any of these events. As another one of my favorite authors, Wally Lamb, says "it's the mystery surrounding her, and that sort of silence that she decided to maintain with the media, that becomes part of the legend of the book."

Below is a photo of Ms. Lee from 2007 - don't you want to grab a drink and chat about that great book with this talented lady?

If you haven't read this charming book, do yourself a favor; get a cup of tea and a couple of, as the English say, biscuits (we call them cookies) and curl up & relax with this debut novel by Helen Simonson.

It's an unexpectedly modest book with no vampires, schoolboy wizards or sinister secret societies. What it is is a romantic comedy/love story about a widowed 68-year-old retired British officer who meets a Pakistani widow/shop keeper in the small village of Edgecombe St. Mary. There are several interconnected subplots that explore the complexity beneath the surface of this idyllic little village. Believe me, there are characters that make you both laugh out loud and wince in pain.

I'm now trying to figure out who to cast in a "Merchant/Ivory" type independent film or an episode of Masterpiece Classics. Any ideas??

I recently came across a fantastic new (at least to me) website devoted to reading. Lit Lovers was developed by a former college English instructor who loves to read and can't stop talking about literature.

What can you do on LitLovers? Lots of things. Find a book. Find a review. Find a discussion guide. Take a course. Whip up a recipe (to match your book). Want to start a book club--for kids or adults? They show you how.

If you are in a book club and looking for some title suggestions, they have wonderful lists such as a lighter touch, wonderfully written and great works. They also list brand new, recent, ongoing and all-time favorites.

If you love to read, this is the website for you!

Since I facilitate the Monday Mysteries Book Discussion Group at the library, I was very interested in Booklist's Year's Best Crime Novels list. I'm proud to say that our group read two of the books listed - The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie and The Case of the Missing Servant. Both were excellent first books in series that we really enjoyed and hope you will too.

There is nothing like relaxing with a great book on a beautiful summer day. It doesn't matter if you are at the beach, pool or just curled up inside with the A/C cranked. Entertainment Weekly has a list of 18 books that look like potential best sellers to take with you wherever you decide to read this summer.

If you are a fan of Stieg Larsson's books (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The Girl who Played with Fire and the soon-to-be released The Girl who Kicked the Hornet's Nest), you'll definitely be interested in this new genre of books, Nordic Noirs.

Another book, The Devil's Star, sounds like it could be the next big block-buster Scandanavian mystery series.

Skål!

I always get the best book suggestions from the people who work right here at the library. In case you are interested in what we currently have checked out, the following is a list of what we are reading now:

Maureen C. - Still Life by Joy Fielding & Flawless :inside the largest diamond heist in history by Scott Andrew Selby and Greg Campbell.
Jen - The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Steig Larsson
Eileen - Bloodroot by Amy Greene
Amy - The Street of a Thousand Blossoms by Gail Tsukiyama
Mary Ellen G. - Brava, Valentine by Adriana Trigiani
Mike - The Girl Who Played with Fire by Steig Larsson
Connie & Ruth - Caught by Harlan Coben
Marlene - Astrid & Veronika by Linda Olsson
Terry - Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan
Joanne - Oive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout & Stones into Schools by Greg Mortenson
Camille B. - The Stranger Beside Me by Ann Rule
Maureen B. - Little Bee by Chris Cleave
Jen R. - Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith
Ellen L. - Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese
Tricia - Hell Gate by Linda Fairstein
Pat - The Good Earth by Pearl Buck
Camille D. - Milk Glass Moon by Adriana Trigiani & Look Again by Lisa Scottoline.
Alene - Despereaux (in Spanish!) by Kate DiCamillo

As you can see from my colleague Mr. M's blog, there are a lot of people out there totally obsessed with Steig Larsson's books. Larsson's trilogy is a genuine publishing phenomenon. Readers who can't wait for the May release of the last book, The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest, are buying it in the U.K!

Read more about this adult version of the Harry Potter craze.

Don't forget that the movie is now playing at the Malverne Movie Theatre. I saw it last night and it was amazing!!!

One of the best books I've read in a very long time, The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak will be the first book discussed at our new book discussion group, Book Chats with Anna Kastavos. Join us this Thursday, April 1st (no April Fools joke) @ 1:00 to meet with others who have read this wonderful, post-modern novel.

Anna is chosing some fantastic books for this group ~ Cutting For Stone by Abraham Verghese on May 6th and City of Thieves by David Benioff on June 3rd.

Wanted to let everyone know what a HUGE success our 'Afternoon with Adriana Trigiani' was Sunday, March 14 at South Side High School.

Despite the 'storm of the century', we had over 350 people attend the fund-raiser that everyone agreed was extraordinary! Adriana was as warm and personable as ever and so devoted to her fans. Over $3,000 was raised for the Friends of the Library to fund our very popular Museum Pass Program, Library-to-Your-Door Program (for homebound patrons) and various Young Adult programs.

Visit Adriana's Facebook page to read the comments of those who attended the event.

If you just can't get enough Adriana, she will be at the Middle Country Library tomorrow, 3/25, to discuss Lucia, Lucia ~ the One Book, One Community Selection.

It's that time of year again ~~ Long Island Reads, an Island-wide reading initiative. Each Spring, people in Nassau and Suffolk come together to read the same book and participate in discussions of the selection during National Library Week in April. The selection this year is The River of Doubt by Candace Millard.

Teddy Roosevelt, the 26th U.S. president, failing re-election, goes on an adventure that nearly kills him. Historian and National Geographic contributor Candice Millard records TR's exploration of an uncharted river in the heart of the Amazon and turns the incredible story of Roosevelt's South American adventure into one that easily matches an Indiana Jones screen adventure.

Join us on Monday, April 12th at noon for our discussion on this true-life adventure story.

We are getting so excited about 'An Afternoon with Adriana Trigiani' this Sunday, March 14th at South Side High School from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Adriana will be signing copies of her latest book, Brava, Valentine, along with fan favorities such as Lucia, Lucia, Big Stone Gap, Viola in Reel Life and Very Valentine. She will also be speaking about her books and taking questions from the audience. Tickets are available for purchase here at the library or at the door the day of the event for a $10 donation to The Friends of the Library.

We also have wonderful themed-raffle baskets based on six of her most popular titles. And, you'll get to meet Adriana's sister, Toni, who will be selling one of a kind Italian-American goods associated with her books.

It should be a terrific day with a great lady and we hope to see you all this weekend.

Only 2 more weeks till St. Patrick's Day!! We just put up a 'Books O' The Irish' display with books from authors such as Frank Delaney, Nuala O'Faolain, Roddy Doyle, Patrick Taylor, Stewart Neville, Anne Enright, John Banville, etc. If you'd like some additional author suggestions, try the Best of Irish Writers, Then & Now blog.

Personally, I'm not into the whole vampire reading craze (not that there is anything wrong with that) but if you are, you may want to check out For Love of Do-Good Vampires or The Vampire Library for some great vampire reads.

Ever notice how things seem to happen in 3's, especially deaths? First we lost the prolific Robert Parker, next was literary icon J.D. Salinger and this Sunday noted British jockey turned mystery writer, Dick Francis passed away at the age of 89. We put out a tribute table to Mr. Francis, come on in and re-read one of his many novels or try one for the first time.

As the Career Coach at the library, I assist people with their resumes all the tme and I found an excellent online resume resource, CeeVee, that is quick, intutive and easy to use when you need a resume in a pinch.

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The Edgar Allan Poe Awards (popularly called the Edgars), named after Edgar Allan Poe, are presented every year by the Mystery Writers of America. They honor the best in mystery fiction, non-fiction, television, film, and theatre published or produced in the previous year. The award ceremony is April 6th so you have plenty of time to read the selections of the best novel mysteries for 2010 or any of the other nominees.

If you are interested in hearing authors' speak about their latest books, we highly recommend listening to The Leonard Lopate Show on WNYC weekdays @ noon. Mr. Lopate is an intelligent, highly informed interviewer (he actually reads the books before the show) and was the speaker at our Endowment Fund Lecture last year.

Save the date, May 11, to see RVC native, Michael Gross, speak at the 2010 Endowment Lecture. Michael Gross is one of America's most provocative non-fiction writers. A contributing editor of Travel + Leisure and editor of Bergdorf Goodman Magazine, he's written for Vanity Fair, Esquire, GQ, Town & Country, the New York Times and New York, and authored eleven books, among them, the best-sellers Model and 740 Park. His latest book is the controversial Rogues' Gallery.

If you are like most Americans (me included), the 1st of the new year signifies a time to lose weight, exercise and get back in shape. We have a variety of good books to help you achieve your goals. Some titles we suggest are:

As we begin the first month of the new year, a great website for all you readers out there, The Millions, has put out a list of the most anticipated books of 2010. Check it out and see if any of your favorite authors have books on the list. One interesting fact is that a number of these 'hot' books have been published posthumously.

Is one of your New Year's resolutions to start and/or join a book discussion group? If so, here are some best books for book club book suggestions from one of my favorite sources, National Public Radio, to get you started.

Happy Reading and Happy New Year!

Two of the best books I've read all year, The Help by Kathryn Stockett and Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford were by first time authors. However, they didn't make the list of NPR's Best Debut Fiction of 2009. Just goes to show you what I know about being a literary reviewer!

It's that time of year again ~ Top 10 "Best Of" Lists. Here are but a few book lists to look over; see if you agree with the selections (let's just say that I've heard of most of these but haven't read one).

New York Times 10 Best Books of 2009

Publishers Weekly Top 10 Books of 2009

Michiko Kakutani's Top 10 Books of 2009 (NYT reviewer)

Janet Maslin's Top 10 Books of 2009 (NYT reviewer)

Looking for a great cook book as a gift this season? You might find exactly what you are looking for on NPR's list of the 10 Best Cook Books of 2009.

Bon appétit!

Looking for book ideas for the discriminating reader on your holiday list? Check out the Holiday Books edition of the Book Review @ NY Times 100 Notable Books for 2009.

The holidays are coming and Ebooks are the hot technology these days with the advent of the Kindle from Amazon. A big drawback with the Kindle though is you must purchase the books from Amazon, no library borrowing allowed. The new Sony Reader, however, allows you to download your books (for 14 days) from the Nassau Digital Doorway located on the RVC website using your library card number.

We thought this was important information for you to have before making a decision on what device you decide to purchase.

Adriana Trigiani, a crowd pleasing best-selling author, will be the featured speaker at a Friends of the Library fund-raising event at Southside High School on March 14 at 2 p.m.
Ms. Trigiani has written the Big Stone Gap series along with Cooking with My Sisters, Lucia, Lucia, Rococo, Queen of the Big Time, Viola in Reel Life (her first young adult novel) and her latest book, Very Valentine. The second book in the planned trilogy, Brava Valentine, will be released on February 2, 2010.

Stay tuned for more details on this event that is sure to be a big hit ~ just ask anyone who has seen her speak or been to one of her book signings.

Most people apparently are as the most requested book in the Nassau County Library System, after Dan Brown's The Lost Symbol, is Kathryn Stockett's wonderful debut novel, The Help.
If you are interested in learning more about the author and how she came to write this book club favorite, check out the article in the New York Times.

The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold has been on the 'must read' list for many teens and adults for the past 7 years. Fans are now looking forward to the upcoming film adaptation next month from Peter Jackson (The Lord of the Rings, King Kong).

If you haven't already read this touching & unusual novel, we strongly advise you to reserve your copy now before everyone finds out about the movie and wants to check out the book (remember My Sister's Keeper and The Time Traveler's Wife?)

The movie has an amazing cast ~ Oscar® nominee Mark Wahlberg and Oscar® winners Rachel Weisz and Susan Sarandon star along with Stanley Tucci, Michael Imperioli and Oscar® nominee Saoirse Ronan. Check out the trailer here.

Actually, we mean books about zombies.

To get you in the spirit of Halloween (this Saturday), we recommend the following scary, creepy and ghoulish books:

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Seth Grahame-Smith
World War Z: an oral history of the zombie war by Max Brooks
The Zombie Survival Guide: complete protection from the living dead by Max Brooks

If you are interested in more information about the 'zombie craze', check out these articles on the NPR website: Rules of the Undead:Zombies Invade Bookstore and Zombies: Still Undead and Suddenly Everywhere

Another librarian (thanks Amy) sent me this link to a NYT article about a CT woman who is reading a book a day for a year. She started this streak on her birthday last October so she only has another week or so to go. I don't know about you, but when I get a chance to read two books a week I think I'm doing really well.

Check out her blog for books that she says can be read in a day. And please, try to refrain from comments about who cares for her children, etc. while she sits around reading all day long ...

The Nobel Prize for Literature and the Man Booker Prize for fiction were both awarded to women last week. Herta Müller won the Nobel for Literature and Hilary Mantel won the Booker Prize.

Mueller, whose Nobel was seen as a nod to the 20th anniversary of communism's collapse, was persecuted in her native Romania for her critical depiction of life behind the Iron Curtain. Her body of work includes the novels The Appointment, The Land of Green Plums and Traveling on One Leg.

Hilary Mantel won the 41st annual Man Booker prize last Tuesday for Wolf Hall, a historical novel about Henry VIII’s court centered on the king’s adviser, Thomas Cromwell.

Congratulations ladies!!

October is a great month for reading. The days are getting shorter and there is nothing quite like a nice cup of tea (or a glass of wine if you are so inclined), a warm blanket and a great book. The following are just a sample of books that are due out this month:

The Wild Things by Dave Eggers
Half Broke Horses by Jeannette Walls (author of The Glass Castle)
Manhood for Amateurs by Michael Chabon
Pursuit of Honor by Vince Flynn
Dragons by Michael Connolly
SuperFreakonomics by Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner
What the Dog Saw by Malcolm Gladwell
Last Night in Twisted River by John Irving

Reserve your copy now either in person, by phone or on-line and wait for a nice cool, crisp day to curl up with these just-released books.

P.S. ~ Tomorrow the Nobel Prize for Literature will be announced ... stay tuned for the results.

Banned Books Week is an annual event celebrating the freedom to read and the importance of the First Amendment. It was established in order to celebrate the freedom to choose and the freedom to express one’s opinion, even if that opinion might be considered unpopular or unorthodox.

The following books are excellent examples of great literature that has been banned or challenged in an attempt to shield the public from what some see as inappropriate ~ 50 Banned Books That Everyone Should Read. See how many you of these 'bad' books you have read. We made it easy for you to check these books out -- just stop by the displays in the Adult and Young Adult sections of the library.

The new season of the Oprah Show began last week (anybody see her Whitney Houston interview?) and she's already made her next book club selection. She chose a book of short stories about Africa's troubled children titled Say You're One of Them by Uwem Akpan.

Mr. Akpan, a Nigerian Jesuit priest, wrote five stories, each is set in a different African country and are narrated by children in poverty and include segments of dialect from across many regions.

Reserve your copy today, either on-line, by phone or of course in person as we love you to browse our collection.

Did you know that September is Library Card Sign Up Month? Here are the top 10 reasons why you should get a Library Card this month if you don't have one already.

Note: Due to a possible Swine Flu epidemic, please refrain from #10.

New York is all abuzz this week with many events scheduled to commemorate the 400th anniversary of Henry Hudson's legendary voyage for the Dutch to the Hudson River and New York City/State. If you are interested in investigating this interesting historic topic, try the following websites ~~ NY400, Henry Hudson 400 or the Mannhatta project for a look at what Manhattan looked like in 1609.

Of course, the library has books on the subject such as The Hudson: America's River, The Hudson River: A Great American Treasure and many, many more. Don't miss our In a New York State of Mind display in the front of the library for more books about our Empire State, past & present.

At the library, patrons often come to the Reference Desk asking for reading suggestions on all types of genre of books. One of the most common requests is for interesting and different mystery titles. Check out this NPR article for books recommended by expert readers advisory librarian Nancy Pearl.

Please join us at our next Monday Mysteries Book Discussion at the library on September 21st @ noon to discuss the highly acclaimed In the Woods by Tana French.

Want to read what the President is reading on vacation at Martha's Vineyard this week? The following are books that Mr. Obama supposedly brought along on his trip:

The Way Home by George Pelecanos ~ a crime thriller based in Washington. D.C. (apropos)
Lush Life by Richard Price ~ a story of race and class set on the Lower East Side.
Hot, Flat & Crowded by Thomas Friedman ~ the benefits to America of an environmental revolution
John Adams by David McCullough ~ bio of our 2nd President
Plainsong by Kent Harul ~ about the lives of eight different characters living in a Colorado prairie community.

The best thing about his list is that these are NOT new titles and most are available right now here at the library!

As a leader of a mystery book discussion group here at the library and a member of my own personal book group, one of my 'go-to' websites for discussion questions is readinggroupguides. Here is an interesting article from them on how the library offers great resources to support your book discussion group.

1969 - what a year it was ~~ Woodstock, the Apollo 11 Moon Landing, the Manson Family, the Stonewall Riot, the Beatles Abbey Road album AND The Brady Bunch premiere on TV! Experience a 'blast from the past' by reading what was considered racy 40 years ago. Check out this list for a few classics of the 60's.

If you are interested in seeing a few real lava lamps, take a close look at our 'summer of love' display behind the desk where you check out and return your books. You'll leave the library feeling GROOVY.

It's August and the weather finally feels like summer! Need some suggestions for a few books to take down to the beach or pool? Check out NPR's Audience Picks: 100 Best Beach Books Ever for a suggested list. It's fun to see how many you've already read (I checked 35 off the list).

Used to be the definition of a good summer read was a trashy romance novel or a good mystery. With the economic turmoil of today, more and more people are chosing to bring career search books along with them to the beach or on vacation. This NYT article offers some good suggestions to start you off. Who knows, maybe you will be starting a new job this September when the kids go back to school!

Looking for a good old fashioned 'chick lit' kind of read this summer? Here is a list of the latest and greatest books that have, what one of our chick lit loving librarians likes to say, no redeeming value but are highly entertaining reads!

Why should kids have all the fun? If you enjoy reading & love to get prizes (who doesn't?), stop by the Adult Reference Desk to sign up for our 1st ever Adult Summer Reading Club. All you need do is read or listen to a book, fill out and hand in a brief review and you are eligible to win prizes. It's that easy and uncomplicated ~ just like we like summer to be.

My idea of a summer read is usually a light, breezy book that doesn't take too much concentration. There are, however, those people who love to read more intense, non-fiction titles. For you ambitious readers, a contributor to NPR developed this list of five books that will shock, appall and delight you, wherever you chose to "relax."

With the weather here on LI getting more rain than Seattle, it's hard to believe that we will ever get to the beach again but believe me, we will. With that said, I found this great article in the Washington Post asking authors which book character they would like to accompany them for a day on the beach. Find out who favorites such as Garrison Keillor, Philippa Gregory, Wally Lamb, etc. would like to hang out on the beach with this year.

If they asked me, I would love to be beach buddies with David Sedaris (he's a character in his own books, isn't he?). Can you imagine the comments he would make watching all the people walk by??

Ernest Hemingway's Key West Home

If you’ve ever dreamed of taking a vacation to the home of one of your favorite authors (in the U.S. and England), check out this website for some great ideas.

As, in my opinion, you can never have too many book suggestions, here is a great source of summer reading titles from the NPR program On Point.

A literary critic, a book review editor and a bookstore manager each give you a heads-up on their top picks for this summer. Hope you find something that intrigues you.

Once we flip the calendar to the month of June, my thoughts turn to thinking about what I'd like to read over the summer. The WSJ had a list of great suggestions both fiction and non-fiction. that I thought I'd share.

Forget stressing about the economy and come into the library to pick up a copy during your 'staycation'. Nothing like getting lost in a good book, sipping a cold drink while feeling a cool breeze gently caress your face. Ahh, summer!

We know that reading can transport us to places all around the world without ever leaving the comfort of our own home. Ever wonder how many places you have 'virtually' visited while reading? I came across a fun website TravBuddy where all you do is check off the places you have "visited' through the wonders of literature and it will calculate what % of the world you have "seen".

Where have you journeyed to lately?

These books are expected to be BIG on the best seller lists this month and possibly all summer long. Great reading suggestions for the upcoming long Memorial Day weekend! Reserve your copy now.

Brooklyn by Colm Toibin

Shanghai Girls by Lisa See

The Last Child by John Hart

The Scarecrow by Michael Connelly

OLIVE KITTERIDGE~for Fiction

The world of Olive Kitteridge, a retired school teacher in a small coastal town in Maine, is revealed in stories that explore her diverse roles in many lives including a lounge singer haunted by a past love, her stoic husband and her own resentful son.

THE HEMINGSES OF MONTICELLO: An American Family by Annette Gordon-Reed~for History

Traces the history of the Hemings family from early eighteenth-century Virginia to their dispersal after Thomas Jefferson's death in 1826, and describes their family ties to the third president against a backdrop of Revolutionary America and the French Revolution.

AMERICAN LION: Andrew Jackson in the White House by Jon Meacham~for Biography

Chronicles the life and career of Andrew Jackson, a self-made man who went on to become a military hero and seventh president of the United States, analyzing Jackson's seminal role during a turbulent era in history.

SLAVERY BY ANOTHER NAME: The Re-Enslavement of Black People in America from the Civil War to World War II by Douglas A. Blackmon~For General Non-Fiction

Reveals how, from the late 1870s through the mid-twentieth century, thousands of African-American men were arrested and forced to work off outrageous fines by serving as unpaid labor to businesses and provincial farmers.

For a list of all the winners, check out the NYT article.

In case you haven't heard (have you been under a rock?), the keynote speaker for the May 13, 2009 RVC Public Library Endowment Fund Lecture will be none other than Leonard Lopate of WNYC radio fame. Most of us here at the library just love listening to his show and are constantly amazed at how absolutely brillant he is.

To find out more about the host of the highest rated local public radio talk show in the country visit his website.

Free tickets to the lecture at SSHS are available at the Adult Reference Desk for RVC cardholders now and for non-residents starting April 27th.

Rockville Centre's own Doris Kearns Goodwin's poignant memoir of her childhood in RVC, Wait Till Next Year, has been selected as the Long Island Reads book for 2009. If you would like to hear Ms. Goodwin speak about her book at the Brentwood Public Library on May 6th at 1:00 p.m., free tickets are available starting today, April 1st, by calling the Nassau Library System at 292-8920 ext. 236 ~ limit 2 per person. Tickets will be mailed directly to your home.

Please join us here at the Library on Monday, April 13th at Noon for our LI Reads book discussion. You can pick up a copy of the book at the desk where you check out your books (first come, first served). Light refreshments will be served at our meeting and we can't wait to hear your remembrances on growing up right here in town.

Looking for things to do that are free AND entertaining in these trying economic times? The last in the Great Writers, Great Readings series at Hofstra University takes place tomorrow at 11:00 a.m featuring playwright Sarah Ruhl. For more information on this event, check out the Hofstra website.

Wondering when some of your favorite authors have new books coming out? The following are sure to become best sellers so put a reserve on one now and you can be among the first to get a copy after its release.

April 2009

David Baldacci ~ First Family ~ Suspense
Carol Higgins Clark ~ Cursed ~ Mystery
Mary Higgins Clark ~ Just Take My Heart ~ Mystery
Diane Mott Davidson ~ Fatally Flaky ~ Mystery
Lisa Jackson ~ Malice ~ Suspense
Iris Johansen - Deadlock ~ Suspense
Alexander McCall Smith ~ Tea Time for the Traditionally Built ~ Mystery
James Patterson ~ The 8th Confession~ Suspense
Amanda Quick ~ The Perfect Poison ~ Suspense
Lisa Scottoline ~ Look Again ~ Suspense
Stuart Woods ~ Loitering With Intent ~ Mystery

In honor of St.Patrick's week, we recommend honoring your Irish heritage by checking out these Irish Book Award winning novels.

Not on the list, but highly recommended (it was one of my favorite books of 2008), is Sebastian Barry's Man Booker award nominated The Secret Scripture.

Beannachtaí na Féile Pádraig oraibh!

In search of kindred spirits if you are an ardent book lover? Check out these novels on the BookBrowse website for a selection of exceptional books about books and book lovers - both fiction and non-fiction.

It's that time of year again - the 5th Annual Essay and Art Contest sponsored by the Intellectual Freedom Committee of the Nassau County Library Association. Submit an essay answering the question What does the Freedom to Read mean to you? and if you are a winner in your age group (8 to 12 years, 13-17 or 18+), you receive a generous Barnes & Noble gift card and an invitation to a reception at the Carle Place B&N in April. They are also looking for an original design or picture this year to be used as a logo for the Intellectual Freedom Committee.

Click here for the full details and registration form.

We've had winners from the RVC library the past few years and would love to continue our winning streak. Good luck everybody!

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Slumdog Millionaire! - a.k.a.Q & A by Vikas Swarup. In case you missed this terrific film and winner of the 2009 Best Picture of the Year Academy Award, check out the book on which the movie was based. Or, if you did see the film, read the novel to see how truthful the movie was to the plot of the book.

Another great suggestion is The Reader by Bernhard Schlink. Kate Winslet won the Best Actress Oscar for portraying a Nazi prison guard (sorry, but I will always remember her as Marianne Dashwood in Sense and Sensibility).

In honor of Valentine's Day (last Saturday, hope you had a nice one), I wanted to alert you to a new book from one of our favorite authors, Adriana Trigiani. Her newest novel, Very Valentine, is the first of a planned triology and promises to be just as popular as her Big Stone Gap series and another big favorite around here, Lucia, Lucia.

Check out the Book Club Girl blog for an in-depth description/review of the book and watch Adriana give a walking tour of her beloved Greenwich village.

Ciao for now.

Come to the library on or around February 12th to celebrate the 200th anniversary of our 16th president's birth! Abraham Lincoln remains one of this country's most beloved president's and the library holds a treasure trove of materials about his life and times. In addition to the very popular Team of Rivals (due to Barack Obama's influence), we have many books on the great man including a new biography written by George McGovern (yes, that McGovern), Abraham Lincoln by Pulitizer Prize winning author James M. McPherson and much, much more. Be sure to check out the special display set up in the main area of the library honoring this extraordinary man.

Take the Honest Abe Quiz to test your knowledge!

The stars must have really been in alignment on February 12, 1809 as another of the world's most famous people, Charles Darwin, was born only minutes apart from Lincoln. We are honoring the anniversary of Mr. Darwin's birth with a display of works on his life at the rear of the library.

Black History Month has added meaning this year with the election of our country's first African-American President, Barack Obama. We are very proud of the two display cases at the library (thank you Alene and Rob, great job!) dedicated to honoring Black scientists and inventors (did you know that the first traffic signal was invented by an African-American? ~~ I didn't).

We also have a great display at the front of the library full of wonderful novels written by African American authors ranging from the Harlem Renaissance up to the present day.

For further reading, try Booklist's Spotlight on Black History reading lists.

P.S. February is also the month that one of our favorite Children's Librarians, Jen Marino, is displaying her photography on the lower concourse. Next time you are in the library, make it a point to go downstairs to see her beautiful photos. Your talents never cease to amaze us Jennifer.

Ever wonder how our new president honed his magical ability to write and speak so eloquently? It's just like our parents and teachers have always told us, you need to be a lifelong reader and lover of books. Check out this January 19th NYT article, From Books, New President Found Voice to see if you have read any of President Obama's favorite reads.

After F. Scott Fitzgerald, Long Island's most famous author these days seems to be Nelson DeMille of Garden City. Other authors originally from LI include Jodi Picoult, Alice Hoffmann and Alice McDermot but they left the Island to live in other areas of the country. In case you missed the article on the author of the new novel, The Gate House, check out this NYT article to find out more about him.

I facilitate the Monday Mysteries Book group here at the library and am always on the look-out for a crime/mystery book for our discussion. I think I found a couple of great mystery/crime titles for future selections from this website ~~The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo sounds intriguing to me.

Join us for our next meeting at noon Monday, January 26 to discuss Pride and Prescience (a Mr. & Mrs. Darcy mystery) by Carrie Bebris.

Now that you've given everyone else a gift this holiday season, why not treat yourself to a little quiet time and read one of these Five Books To Give Yourself This Year.

I can't wait to get a hold of American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld as I've heard great things about it from quite a few patrons.

As the last couple of days of '08 wind down, I started thinking of all the books we've read during the course of the past year. I took a poll of the library staff and the following are some of our favorite books of 2008: (hint: none are any of the NYT notables of '08, just really good reads)

Amy - The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Barrows, The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett and The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak.

Terry -When a Crocodile Eats the Sun by Peter Godwin and The Lost Art of Keeping Secrets by Eva Rice

Ellen B - Playing for Pizza by John Grisham and Luncheon of the Boating Party by Susan Vreeland.

Alene - Deep Dish by Mary Kay Andrews, Rule Number Two : lessons I learned in a combat hospital by Heidi Squier Kraft and Death : a Life by George Pendle

Mike - Babylon Babies by Maurice G. Dantec and Every Last Drop by Charlie Huston

Eileen - The Secret Scripture by Sebastian Barry and Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay.

Connie - Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett, Cathedral of the Sea by Ildefonso Falcones and Child 44 by Tom Rob Smith.

Ellen L. - The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamid and What Happened to Anna K. by Irina Reyn.

Happy 2009!

As hard as it is to believe, here we are at the end of another year and the 'best of' lists are out. I hate to admit this, but I have a lot of reading to do to make a substantial dent in the New York Times' 100 Notable Books of 2008 - how about you?

As you know, the number of book discussion groups has increased dramatically over the last ten years or so. Here at the library, we always know what local book groups are reading when we get 5 or 6 requests for titles such as The Zookeeper's Wife or The Ditchdigger's Daughters, both great choices for discussion.

I saw this article, Fought Over Any Good Books Lately?, in the Sunday Times and heard it discussed on the Brian Lehrer radio show last week. Can any of you relate? I can't, at my book club, we are lucky we agree on most titles and whoever choses the book leads the next discussion. I'm glad we get along and I can now tell my group how much money we save by not needing a facilitator!

There's already Oscar buzz about Kate Winslet for both of her upcoming movie roles in Revolutionary Road and The Reader. But, did you know that the movies are based on best selling novels of the same name? I read The Reader a few years ago when it was an Oprah Book Club selection and loved it. Why not read the books and then check out the movies to see if the old adage that the movie is never as good as the book still holds true? I'm betting that it is.

More Books into Movies - November & December

P.S. - the critically acclaimed indie movie, Slumdog Millionaire, is based on a 2005 novel Q&A by Vikas Swarup.

You're reading this blog so we know that you're intelligent, but, if you want to get smarter (is that even possible?), check out 100 Blogs That Will Make You Smarter. Scroll down to #70 for the literature blogs.

Congratulations to Peter Matthiessen and Annette Gordon-Reed for winning the Fiction and Non-Fiction 2008 National Book Award for their books Shadow Country and The Hemingses of Monticell: An American Family. Judy Blendell's What I Saw and How I Lied won the prize for Young People's Literature.

Yikes -- Thanksgiving is just 8 days away. Need ideas for a new side dish, vegetable or dessert this year? Check out our display in the front of the library for some great Thanksgiving cookbooks, Gourmet & Bon Appétit Magazines, etc. We also suggest Epicurious, Allrecipes and the Food Network websites for more recipe hints and ideas.

All of us at the library hope our patrons enjoy the holiday in the company of family and friends.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Last week, we posted information on the Fiction finalists for the 2008 National Book Award. The following books are nominated for the Non-Fiction prize:

This Republic of Suffering: Death and the American Civil War by Drew Gilpin Faust
The Hemingses of Monticello: An American Family by Annette Gordon-Reed
The Dark Side:The Inside Story of How the War on Terror Turned into a War on American Ideals
Final Salute: A Story of Unfinished Lives by Jim Sheeler
The Suicide Index: Putting My Father’s Death in Order by Joan Wickersham

The 59th annual National Book Awards Ceremony will be held on November 19, 2008 at Cipriani, Wall Street in New York City and I'll be sure to let you know the winners.

The National Book Award fiction finalists for 2008 include some well-known and a few new authors. The five nominees are The Lazarius Project by Aleksandar Hemon, Shadow Country by veteran author Peter Matthiessen (a co-founder of the Paris Review), The End, a first novel from Salvatore Scibona, Home by Pulitzer Prize winning author Marilynne Robinson, Telex from Cuba, a debut novel by Rachel Kushner.

The winners will be announced at a ceremony in NYC next month on November 19th.

Popular historical fiction author, Philippa Gregory, has a new novel on the NYT Best Seller list this week titled The Other Queen. This time she is writing about the life and times of Mary, Queen of Scots. In addition to one of our favorite books of hers, The Other Boleyn Girl (loved the book but not the recent movie), Ms. Gregory has written The Boleyn Inheritance, The Constant Princess, The Queen's Fool and many, many more.

If you like Philippa Gregory, we suggest you try the following authors ...

Jean Plaidy
Elizabeth Chadwick
Margaret George
Rosalind Laker
Posie Geaeme-Evans

Enjoy your remembrances of things past!

Long Island will be on the national stage for tonight's final Presidential Debate at my alma mater, Hofstra University. For those of you who can't get enough politics (I can't wait till November 5th), check out these books to feed your elections fix.

We know one of the biggest challenges all book groups face is finding new, interesting and "discussable" books. Check out these suggestions from one of our favorite sites, ReadingGroupGuides for some interesting picks.

Have the economic events of the last few weeks got you worried? Do you want to know more about your finances to see if you are on the right track? Save money (isn't that what this is all about) and check out the array of personal finance books available here at the library. We suggest:

Easy Money:how to simplify your finances and get what you want out of life by Liz Pullam Weston

Your Complete Retirement Planning Road Map by RVC native Ed Slott (as seen on PBS)

The Ultimate Cheapskate's Road Map to True Riches:a practical (and fun) guide to enjoying life more by spending less by Jeff Yeager

The Busy Family's Guide to Money by Sandra Block, Kathy Chu & John Waggoner.

Let's Get Real About Money:profit from the habits of the best personal finance managers by Eric Tyson

This month libraries all over New York State (and the country), will be putting up displays and posters in honor of Banned Books Week (Sept 27 - Oct 4). The annual event, started in 1982 by the American Library Association, is a celebration of your freedom to read and an important reminder that this liberty must not be taken for granted. Here is a list of the most frequently challenged books of 2007. See how many of them you have read and remember - Free People Read Freely ®.

Put your reserve in now for these sure-to-be-popular Non-Fiction books due out this Fall.

Michelle (Michelle Obama) by Liza Mundy
The Longest Trip Home by John Grogan (author of Marley & Me)
How to Have Style by Isaac Mizrahi (designer @ Target, etc.)
Against Medical Advice: One Family's Struggle with an Agonizing Medical Mystery by James Patterson (best-selling suspense author)
Speaking for Myself: My Life from Liverpool to Downing Street by Cherie Blair (wife of Tony, former British Prime Minister)

The kids are back in school, the pools are closed and my favorite time of the year is about to begin - Autumn! Some popular authors have books due out this Fall and now is the time to put them on reserve so you can be among the first to read them. The following is just a small sampling of new releases:

The Given Day by Dennis Lehane - 9/23
One Fifth Avenue by Candace Bushnell - 9/22
Indignation by Philip Roth- 9/16
The Brass Verdict by Michael Connelly - 10/14
I See You Everywhere by Julia Glass - 10/21
The Gate House by Nelson DeMille - 10/23

NEXT WEEK-- New Non-Fiction Releases

Mark your calendars now for the 2008 Brooklyn Book Festival, (Sunday September 14th ) a huge, free event presenting an array of literary stars and emerging authors who represent the world of literature today. The Festival presents exciting and innovative fiction and non-fiction programs with author discussions and readings--all adding up to great day in the great outdoors, thousands of books and a wonderfully celebratory spirit.

Confirmed authors include Joan Didion, Richard Price, Jonathan Lethem, Frank Delaney, Russell Banks, A.M. Homes, George Pelecanos, Terry McMillan, Jonathan Franzen, Noami Wolf, Chuck Klosterman, Jimmy Breslin, Pete Hamill, Nikki Turner, Gail Carson Levine, Cecily von Ziegesar, Jon Scieszka, Mo Willems and many, many more.

The Democratic National Convention began Monday night and unbelieveably, we are about 70 or so days away from electing a new president.

So, how much do you really know, or think you know, about the people running for President and Vice-President? We have numerous books by and about, John McCain, Barack Obama and newly selected VP choice, Joe Biden. Don't leave it to the talking heads on TV, read one of the following and make your own decision.

The Audacity of Hope : thoughts on reclaiming the American dream by Barack Obama
Barack Obama by Sherri and Mark Devaney
Barack Obama : the politics of hope by William Michael Davis
Dreams from my father by Barack Obama

Worth the fighting for : a memoir by John McCain with Mark Salter
Faith of my fathers by John McCain with Mark Salter
Man of the people : the life of John McCain by Paul Alexander

Promises to keep : on life and politics by Joe Biden

And, when we find out who John McCain choses for his VP later this week, we'll update this page.

8/29 update: Sarah Palin chosen as John McCain's V.P.

Have you ever wanted a better way to:

* see what your friends are reading?
* keep track of what you've read and what you'd like to read?
* get great book recommendations from people you know?

I want to thank Erin, our YA librarian, for telling me about this website that she feels is very useful. Goodreads is a free website for book lovers. Imagine it as a large library that you can wander through and see everyone's bookshelves, their reviews, and their ratings. You can also post your own reviews and catalog what you have read, are currently reading and plan to read in the future. Don’t stop there – join a discussion group, start a book club, contact an author and even post your own writing.

The summer blockbuster season is just about over so it's time to look forward to Fall movies. The following are movies based on novels premiering this September/October. Why not read the book (click title to reserve) and make a decision which was better, book or movie. I've rarely seen a movie that was better than, or as good as, the book -- The Cider House Rules the only exception in my humble opinion.

September 26 - Choke by Chuck Palahniuk
Starring: Sam Rockwell & Angelica Huston

September 26 - Miracle at St. Anna by James McBride
Directed by Spike Lee
Starring: Derek Luke, Michael Ealy, Laz Alonso, John Leguizamo, Joseph Gordon Levitt and James Gandolfini
view trailer

October 3 - Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist by Rachel Cohn & David Levithan
Starring: Michael Cera & Kat Dennings
view trailer

October 3 - What Just Happened by Art Linson
Starting: Robert DeNiro, Sean Penn, Bruce Willis, Catherine Keener, Stanley Tucci, Robin Wright Penn, John Turturro, etc. What a cast!!
view trailer

October 17 - The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd
Starring: Dakota Fanning, Queen Latifah, Alicia Keys and Jennifer Hudson
view trailer

Take Alexandre Dumas to Paris with you, read Elizabeth Bishop while in the Hamptons, pack Michael Dibdin for your trip to Ireland - wherever you are going on vacation this year, writers (Julian Barnes, Dave Eggers, Colm Toibin, etc. ) recommend these perfect literary travelling companions.

I just read an interesting article in the New York Times regarding the new generation of chick-lit and the huge role brand name fashion now plays in these novels. Check it out, Truman Capote would be totally amazed at what his novella, Breakfast at Tiffany's, has wrought.

If you are always on the look-out for new, interesting and/or quirky pool or beach reads, then check out these suggestions from New York Magazine. There should be something for everyone's taste on this varied list of new titles for Summer '08.

You don't have to buy the July issue of Oprah Winfrey's O Magazine to get some great suggestions for books to read this summer. Here is the link for books just made for a summer afternoon. They promise to be some of the juiciest, most riveting, provocative, lyrical and eye-widening books of the season.

Ever wonder what people surrounded by books all day long chose to read in their free time? The following is a list of what your friendly library staff is reading this summer:

~Merrill~
Outtakes from a Marriage by Ann Leary (wife of actor Denis Leary)
A witty take on marital survival in Manhattan.

~Alene~
Buckingham Palace Gardens by Ann Perry
Thomas Pitt must be discreet as he investigates murder at an out-of-control party; the host was the Prince of Wales.

~Amy~
Copernicus' Secret by Jack Repcheck
Traces the story of the enigmatic scientist while revealing how he was able to make his pivotal discovery about how the earth revolves around the sun in spite of limited technology.

~Mike~
Altered Carbon by Richard K. Morgan
In a 25th century world in which death is nearly obsolete, former UN envoy Takeshi Kovacs, re-sleeved into a new body after a brutal death, finds himself caught in the middle of a deadly far-reaching conspiracy.

~Maureen~
The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson
An account of the Chicago World's Fair of 1893 relates the stories of two men who shaped the history of the event--architect Daniel H. Burnham, who coordinated its construction, and serial killer Herman Mudgett.

~Eileen~
Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin
The true account of how the author Mortenson, having been rescued by Himalayan villagers after a failed attempt to climb K2, worked to build schools that would benefit the young girls who were forbidden an education by Taliban restrictions.

~Connie~
Gaspipe by Philip Carlo
Having profiled a serial killer (The Night Stalker) and a Mafia contract killer (The Ice Man), author Philip Carlo turns to Anthony "Gaspipe" Casso, once head of the Lucchese crime family.

~Pat~
The Saffron Kitchen by Yasmin Crowther
When her troubled past resurfaces with tragic consequences, Maryam departs for the remote Iranian village of her youth, followed by her daughter Sara, who finally learns the price her mother paid to secure her own freedom.

~Ellen L.~
Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke
In 19th century England, all is going well for rich, reclusive Mr Norell, who has regained some of the power of England's magicians from the past, until a rival magician, Jonathan Strange, appears and becomes Mr Norrell's pupil.

Now that we are officially into the hazy, lazy days of summer why not check out these cookbooks for some refreshing summer cooking ideas:

We've also included a link from NPR (of course) for the 10 Best Cookbooks for Summer. Mangia!!

If you are an avid NPR listener like many of us here at the library (Leonard Lopate has wonderful author interviews), we think you will enjoy Summer Books '08. This website offers book recommendations for every type of reader from the literary fiction lover to the reluctant teen reader. So take a look to see what you'd like to read this summer and head to the library to pick up your copy before hitting the beach.

Does your attention span wane during the sultry summer months? If you can't wrap your head around a novel when it's just too darned hot, why not try reading short stories? We have a book display of short story collections located in the front of the library titled "Summer Shorts". Last time I checked, we had a great selection from which to choose including Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri (Pulitizer Prize winner), The Book of Other People edited by Zadie Smith (includes stories by Edwidge Danticat, Jonathan Safran Foer, Colm Toibin and Jonathan Lethem and many more) and My Sherlock Holmes - untold stories of the great detective edited by Michael Kurland. If you don't find something on display that piques your interest, we have a whole aisle of short stories from which to chose.

Check out this addictive website from USA Today featuring annotations of over 100 upcoming summer '08 books. I love the feature allowing you to read a pretty lengthy excerpt to get a flavor of the book. Don't forget to look at the comments section at the bottom of the the page for reader reviews and recommendations. I'm looking forward to Outtakes from a Marriage by Ann Leary (real-life wife of Denis Leary) for my beach reading this summer -- sounds good and trashy.

Did you miss the article in the New York Times last Friday titled, Volumes to Go Before You Die ? To cut to the chase, here is the list of the 1,001 Books You Must Read Before You Die according to 105 English critics, editors and academics. Why not see how many you have read and get some ideas for your next read.

Here's hoping you have a nice long life with time to read every book on the list.

I have to tell you that I find out the most interesting information while talking with our patrons at the reference desk. Today, a woman came in to reserve The Lottery by Patricia Wood. When I asked her how she found out about that particular book she told me about this great article in the June issue of Real Simple magazine. Ten top-selling authors share their favorite lazy-summer-day reads. Check out what Augusten Burroughs, Jackie Collins, Nelson DeMille, Janet Evanovich, Elizabeth Gilbert, Philippa Gregory, Sophie Kinsella, James Patterson, Jodi Picoult and Danielle Steel recommend for 1-day reads, books for a long-weekend (this one!), books to savor all summer and books to dip into and out of.

Thanks Real Simple, you just made reading a bit easier for us this holiday weekend.

A colleague (thank you Amy) recently shared a website for anyone interested in Reader's Advisory. BookBrowse recommends the best recently published books and provides you with everything you need to decide which reads are right for you - so you can browse the best and ignore the rest!

FYI - You don't have to become a member to use a majority of this site.

Happy Reading!

The Mystery Writers of America announced the winners of the 2008 Edgar Awards last week. The winner for Best Novel was Down River by John Hart -- A black sheep's homecoming triggers violence, murder and much sensual heat.

To see a complete listing of all the winners, check out the MWA website.

Did you know that there is a Long Island Library Conference held every year? It's an educational forum for all those who work in and for libraries. Our keynote speaker for this year's May 8th conference is Ellen Meister, an author from Jericho, who has written a very funny book called Secret Confessions of the Applewood PTA . An avid reader herself, Ms. Meister has a blog you should check out for some great book recommendations.

There are still tickets available to see Carol Higgins Clark speak about her new book, Zapped, at Southside High School Auditorium next week. Stop by the Adult Reference Desk at the library to pick up your free tickets for our 2008 Endowment Fund Lecture on Wednesday, April 30th @ 7:30 p.m. This event will also feature a question and answer session and book sale/signing. Don't miss this opportunity to meet a famous mystery writer 'up close and personal'!

The good news is that it's the day after the dreaded April 15 tax deadline. For all of us who filed (and qualifed ) this year, the government has promised a tax rebate stimulus check. Need some suggestions on what to do with your check? Why not stop by the library and check out our display (located at the front of the library) of personal finance books, everything from Suze Orman to Jim Cramer and a whole lot more. If you plan on using your money on something fun and adventurous, we have a large section of travel books for you to peruse. And, should you need an audio book to listen to on the plane or beach, try some of our new Playaways, self-playing audio books the size of a deck of cards.

During these trying economic times, there are not many things you can do, or get, for free so we invite everyone to come to the library to take advantage of all we have to offer.

We just found out about a new website Redroom that offers authors and readers a literary MySpace. Red Room aspires to be the online home of the world’s greatest writers. Through original, author-generated content, they offer a creative social network. Here, you can connect with your favorite authors, access current industry news and comment on engaging features. By fostering true community between authors and readers, Red Room showcases esteemed and up-and-coming writers and aims to inspire the next generation. Why not see if you'd like to register or just access the website for interesting new reads.

Poems are made by fools like me ...

Do you remember the rest of this famous poem? Poetry is a bigger part of our lives than we think. April is designated as National Poetry Month and we put together a book display of all types of poetry for you to check out. Naturally, we have books by former and current Poets Laureate but we also include child poet and Oprah fave -- Mattie Stepanek; Children's poet -- the late, great Shel Silverstein; Calvin Trillin for poems with a political bent and many, many more. Come into the library and see for yourself all the different types of books of poetry the library owns.

We also suggest you visit the Poets website if you'd like to get in touch with your 'inner poet' this month.

BTW, the rest of the poem is '... but only God can make a tree' from Trees by Joyce Kilmer.

If you are a book club member, did you know:

Many book clubs rely on recommendations from other book clubs for their book selections.

The book club population has increased 25% in the last 5 years, rising from 4.6 million to 5.2 million adults.

The average book club member reads 36 books per year. Only 12 of those are book club selections. (The average American reads 5 books per year.)

Check out Book Movement to see what other clubs are reading and what books they recommend.

If your choice of a great read is action/adventure, thriller or suspense novels, have we got a website for you! Check out the International Thriller Writers site for 'hot off the press' books, guaranteed page turners and much, much more.

No, it's not what you're thinking. March is 'for Dummies' month and we invite you to check out the varied collection of 'dummies' books here at the library. For Dummies books use a lighthearted, down-to-earth approach with cartoons and humorous icons to dispel fears and inspire confidence about any subject with which you are not familiar. These books are lighthearted but certainly not lightweight. Titles new to our collection include Job Interviews for Dummies, Solar Power Your Home for Dummies, Arthritis for Dummies (Large Type), Negotiating for Dummies and many, many more. Don't be a dummy and buy the book when you can borrow it for free.

Looking for the "best" book in the genre you love? The following is a list chosen by librarians (from a division of the American Library Association) who specialize in readers' advisory as the best of each of the eight genre categories. Read one and see if you agree.

Adrenaline (a.k.a. thrillers, suspense and action/adventure)
The Second Objective by Mark Frost
In an attempt to regain the upper hand for Germany in the fall of 1944, commando Otto Skorzeny plots to have 2,000 English-speaking soldiers infiltrate Allied lines, while a smaller band of commandos embark on a more sinister mission.

Fantasy
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
A hero named Kvothe, now living under an assumed name as the humble proprietor of an inn, recounts his transformation from a magically gifted young man into the most notorious wizard, musician, thief, and assassin in his world.

Historical Fiction
The Religion by Tim Willocks
A French countess enlists the aid of a German sword-for-hire when she travels from her home to Malta in search of the boy she gave up at birth twelve years ago, but they arrive just as the city is invaded by the Turks.

Horror
The Heart-Shaped Box by Joe Hill (Stephen Kings' son)
Hnscrupulous metal band musician Judas Coyne is unable to resist purchasing a ghost over the Internet, which turns out to be the vengeful spirit of his late girlfriend's stepfather.

Mystery
Mistress of the Art of Death by Ariana Franklin
Sent to medieval Cambridge in order to exonerate a group of Jewish prisoners with financial ties to King Henry I, University of Salerno medical examiner Adelia and a group of companions struggle to avoid being accused of witchcraft and discover that the killer may be a former crusader.

Romance
Natural Born Charmer by Susan Elizabeth
Taking to the road between seasons, attractive Chicago Stars quarterback Dean Robillard meets the beautiful and infuriating Blue under unusual circumstances and draws on his competitive skills to overcome her wariness of relationships.

Science Fiction
In War Times by Kathleen Ann Goonan
In an alternate-universe depiction of World War II, a man enlists for the military after his brother is killed at Pearl Harbor and receives plans for a mysterious device from one of his instructors that he spends the war constructing, with unexpected and bizarre results.

Women's Fiction
Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen
A successful caterer, Claire has always remained tied to the legacy of the Waverly family, until her peaceful life is transformed by Tyler Hughes, an art teacher and new next-door neighbor, and by the return of her prodigal sister,

In these days of the 24/7 news channels, it's hard to believe that there might be some things that we don't know about the presidental candidates. Just in case Chris Matthews, Wolf Blitzer and the rest of the pundits may have missed something, the following are books either about or by one of the politicians in the 2008 presidential campaign -- Hillary Clinton, Mike Huckabee, John McCain and Barack Obama. And, as of this past Sunday, add Ralph Nader to the list!

If you are a literary fiction fan and enjoyed Motherless Brooklyn and/or The Fortress of Solitude, you should head on over to Hofstra University on Wednesday, Februrary 25th @ 11:30 a.m. to hear author Jonathan Lethem speak as part of the Great Writers, Great Readings series. For more information on this interesting program, please call 516-463-5419.

We all know the Oscars, but have you heard about the EDGARS? The Edgar Allan Poe Awards (popularly called the Edgars) are presented every year by the Mystery Writers of America. They honor the best in mystery fiction, non-fiction, television, film and theatre published or produced in the past year. Check out the nominated books on their website if you're a mystery lover. Who knows, you just may discover a new author or title to pique your interest.

Looking for a book written in a fresh, new voice? Every day books by first-time novelists arrive at the library and here are just a few that we recommend:

Beginner's Greek by James Collins - a romantic man's version of chick lit, in which love conquers all, everyone lives happily-ever-after and a guy and girl see fate triumph over circumstantial twists and bad luck.

Beautiful Children by Charles Bock - The disappearance of a 12-year-old boy brings together the lives of a group of seemingly unrelated strangers in Las Vegas--including his parents, an illustrator, a stripper, a teenage anarchist, and a group of street runaways.

Gardens of Water by Alan Drew - The lives of two families living in Istanbul are changed by an earthquake that brings them together and forbidden love blossoms between a Kurdish Muslim girl and an American.

The Heroines by Eileen Favorite - the story of 13-year-old Penny and her mother who run a bed-and-breakfast for literary heroines on vacation from their plots, among them Madame Bovary, Catherine Earnshaw, and Ophelia.

The 80th Annual Academy Awards will be held on Sunday, February 24, 2008. Last week, the Oscar nominees were announced and many of the nominated films for best picture are based on best selling novels. Among the titles we suggest you read before the winners are announced next month are:

Atonement by Ian McEwan - a profound and moving exploration of shame, forgiveness and the difficulty of absolution.

Oil by Upton Sinclair (There will be Blood) - follows the relationship of a man from a wealthy California family and his son as they pursue oil and deal with the manipulations of magnates and speculators, socialists, Hollywood tycoons, politicians, etc.

No Country for Old Men by Cormac McCarthy - a bleak chronicle of murder, revenge and implacable fate set in 1980 in southern Texas.

Keep your fingers crossed that the writer's strike is settled so we can watch the ceremonies on TV!!

While getting ready for work Tuesday morning, I had the radio on, as usual, and heard something that really piqued my interest. Nancy Pearl, a librarian from Seattle and a hero to librarians everywhere, was talking about her list of 'Under-the-Radar' books. Check out this site if you are looking for alternatives to the best sellers. Nancy always has interesting and off-beat suggestions.

Nancy Pearl, our hero ;-)

Long Island Reads is a program in which people in Nassau and Suffolk come together to read the same book, participate in discussions of the selection and enjoy related events in public libraries. The program takes place every year in April during National Library Week.

The 2008 LI Reads selection is Aloft, Chang-rae Lee's story of a retired Long Island widower/businessman reflecting on the time he has spent in his small plane to avoid engaging with those around him down here on earth. The author will talk about his book at the Farmingdale Library on April 12th. Free tickets will be available - please contact the RVC library in March for information on how to obtain tickets. Our discussion will be held on Monday, April 14th at 12:00 p.m. at the library. Please stop in to pick up your copy of the book and join our discussion during National Library Week. Hope to see you there.

Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.

Ever wonder where this line is from? Check out the 100 Best First Lines of Novels as chosen by the editors of American Book Review. You'll enjoy seeing if you can match the opening line with the novel. The first two are pretty easy but it gets tougher as you down the list.

BTW, the answer is Anna Karenina!

MASTERPIECE THEATRE has great news for Jane Austen fans: PBS’ British drama series will broadcast adaptations of all of Austen’s six novels, plus a new drama based on her life. It’s the first time in television history that her books have been broadcast as a complete collection. The broadcast schedule is:

January 13 - Persuasion

January 20 - Northanger Abbey

January 27 - Mansfield Park

February 3 - Miss Austen Regrets - a new drama based
on Austen's own bittersweet love life.

February 10, 17 & 24 - Pride and Prejudice

March 23 - Emma

March 30 & April 6 - Sense and Sensibility

Our Mother~Daughter Book Club (for girls in grade 7 and up and their Moms) is reading 'Pride and Prejudice' on January 14th at 7:30 p.m. here at the library. Join the book club and enjoy a lively discussion and light snacks.

We strongly encourage everyone to read Miss Austen's wonderful novels and watch the shows to see how they compare and contrast. Pick up a complimentary Masterpiece Theatre bookmark with the dates of the shows here at the library.

A few weeks back, I posted on this blog a link to the NYT's 100 Notable Books of 2007. For those of you with more quirky and/or off-beat taste, we thought you might like this article (The Ones That Got Away) about books that were overlooked by the more mainstream book review sections in '07.

This New Year, may your right hand always be stretched out in friendship but never in want. And, we hope you always have a good book to read in the other!

One of the challanges of being a voracious reader is trying to find your next read. If you've already read everything by your favorite author, one of our databases, Novelist, has some suggestions for you. The author read-alike lists include a brief discussion of why people enjoy an author and a listing of other authors who write in a similar fashion to the one you enjoy. We hope you discover some interesting new authors after checking out this site.

Don't let The Grinch steal your Christmas this year. If the stress of the season is getting you down, why not curl up on a comfortable sofa with one of these holiday novels. They're breezy, uplifting and sure to make your heart feel light. We recommend:

A Redbird Christmas by Fannie Flagg
The Handmaid and the Carpenter by Elizabeth Berg
Finding Noel by Richard Paul Evans
The Santa Cruise: a holiday mystery at sea by Mary Higgins Clark
Christmas Letters by Debbie Macomber

It's that time of the year again - the end of year 'BEST OF' lists. For all you bibliophiles out there, check out the NYT 100 Notable Books of 2007 list. Who knows, maybe you can pick up a gift idea or two along with an idea for your next read!

Congratulations to Denis Johnson (Fiction - Tree of Smoke), Tim Weiner (Non-Fiction - Legacy of Ashes: The History of the CIA), Robert Hass (Poetry - Time and Materials) & Sherman Alexie (Young People's Literature - The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian ) - all 2007 National Book Award Winners. For a complete listing of all the finalists (and links to author interviews), check out National Book Awards

The holiday season starts this week along with all the stress and anxiety of getting the seemingly endless cooking, decorating and shopping done before Christmas and Hanukkah. Remember that you can't take care of everyone else if you don't take good care of yourself. Give yourself the gift of time this year to relax and rejuvenate your mind, body and spirit during this busy season. Some books and CDs that we recommend and hope you enjoy are:

CDs

*Comfort: classical masterpieces and originals soothe your soul and spirit
*Nights of quiet stars
*Mountain medow meditation
*A.M. & P.M. yoga meditations

BOOKS

*Leslie Sansone's Eat Smart, Walk Strong by Leslie Sansone
*Meditations in a New York Minute by Mark Thornton
*Yoga: awakening the inner body by Donald Moyer
*The eating well healthy in a hurry cookbook by Jim Romanoff
*The 5-minute face: the quick and easy makeup guide for every woman by Carmindy (of What Not to Wear fame)
*The grown-up girl's guide to style: the maintenance bible for fashion, beauty and more by Christine Schwab

NEW to our Audio book collection are Playaways. A playaway is a self-playing audio book that comes pre-loaded on a small (the size of a deck of playing cards) device. They were designed with a universal headphone jack to work with almost any type of headphone, speaker or car adapter. Playways are more convenient and easier to enjoy than juggling multiple CDs or cassettes. Perfect if you are a walker or for use on a treadmill. Just put it into your pocket and off you go. Some titles in our ever-expanding collection include:

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi
The Curious Incident of the do in the night-time by Mark Haddon

Interested in a 'green lifestyle' but not sure how to get started or what you can do to make an impact? The library has a whole host of informative books to help you along. Some of our favorites include:

Raising baby green: the earth-friendly guide to pregnancy, childbirth and baby care by Alan Greene

The green book: the everyday guide to saving the planet one simple step at a time by Elizabeth Rogers and Thomas M. Kostigen

It's easy being green: a handbook for earth-friendly living by Crissy Trask

Hands-on environmentalism by Brent M. Haglund

Last Saturday evening, I was home channel surfing and stumbled onto a very pleasant surprise -- Channel 4 was televising an award show honoring books --the 2007 Quill Awards. The Quills celebrate the best adult and children's books of the year in 19 popular categories, ranging in everything from biography to general fiction to cookbooks and graphic novels. The winners are selected through a two-part process involving nomination by industry experts and final selection by consumer votes. They are promoted as 'consumer-driven awards created to inspire reading while promoting literacy'.

The 2007 Quill Award Winners are:

Book of the year: Angels Fall, Nora Roberts
Debut author of the year:The Thirteenth Tale: A Novel , Diane Setterfield
Audio book: To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee, (read by Sissy Spacek)
Children's illustrated book: Flotsam, David Wiesner
Children's chapter book/middle grade: The Invention of Hugo Cabret, Brian Selznick
Young adult/teen: Sold, Patricia McCormick
General fiction: The Road, Cormac McCarthy
Graphic novel: Making Comics: Storytelling Secrets of Comics, Manga and Graphic Novels, Volume 7, Scott McCloud
Mystery/suspense/thriller: What the Dead Know, Laura Lippman
Poetry: For the Confederate Dead, Kevin Young
Romance: Angels Fall, Nora Roberts
Science fiction/fantasy/horror: The Name of the Wind, Patrick Rothfuss
Religion/spirituality: Religious Literacy: What Every American Needs to Know - And Doesn't, Stephen Prothero
Biography/memoir: Einstein: His Life and Universe, Walter Isaacson
Business: The No Asshole Rule: Building a Civilized Workplace and Surviving One That Isn't, Robert I. Sutton, PhD
Cooking: Joy of Cooking: 75th Anniversary Edition, Irma S. Rombauer, Marion Rombauer Becker, and Ethan Becker
Health/self improvement: How Doctors Think, Jerome Groopman, M.D.
History/current events/politics: The Assault on Reason, Al Gore
Humor: I Like You: Hospitality Under the Influence, Amy Sedaris
Sports: The Kings of New York: A Year Among the Geeks, Oddballs, and Geniuses Who Make Up America's Top High School Chess Team, Michael Weinreb

Stop into the library and check out the display table featuring these winners.

Some books (fiction and non-fiction) due out next Monday, 10/29 & Tuesday, 10/30 as per Publishers Weekly:

* Richard M. Nixon: A Life in Full by Conrad Black
* YOU: Staying Young ~ The Owner's Manual to Extending Your Warranty by Dr. Michael Rosen and Dr. Mehmet Oz
* Amazing Grace by Danielle Steel
* Protect and Defend by Vince Flynn
* A Family Christmas by Caroline Kennedy
* The Race by Richard North Patterson
* Write It When I'm Gone: Remarkable Off-the-Record Conversations with Gerald R. Ford by Thomas DeFrank
* No Reservations: Around the World on an Empty Stomach by Anthony Bourdain
* The Star Wars Vault by Stephen Sansweet and Peter Vilmur